Bulletin – January 31, 2016

COME MEET THE BAZJIAN FAMILY!

This Sunday, our newcomers from Syria, Khajik, Christine and their children, George and Melissa will be attending the 10:30 AM Mass. After Mass there will be an opportunity to speak with them and get to know them in the Gathering Space.

CHOIR NEWS!

Tuesday, February 2nd from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

On Tuesday, February 2nd from 7:30 to 9:00 PM the choir will be hosting a hymn sing! In preparation for full singing participation at all our masses, we will wander through our new blue Gather Hymn books. We will be focusing on new hymns for Lent and Easter. Please join us for a good ol’ sing-a-long!

FIRST RECONCILIATION

Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 AM

St. Gabriel’s Church

First Reconciliation for children attending St. Gabriel’s School and those in the Children’s Faith Program and children attending Private Schools will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 AM.

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

Interviews for children who wish to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled. Those children attending the Children’s Faith Program, private schools or others are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 26th, 27th or 28th.

Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: May 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 17th, 18th, 19th or 20th. Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 to book your appointment with Fr. Brando.

ENGLISH ROSARY GROUP

Saturday, February 6th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room
For information, please contact Linda Law at 416 -918-8029

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, February 5th from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon

ECO-SABBATH

Sunday, February 7th at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room

On the first Sunday of each month, the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality facilitates a 30 minute reflection and discussion prompted by the readings for that Sunday’s liturgy. The guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings. All are welcome.

ASH WEDNESDAY

February 10th 2016

February 10th is Ash Wednesday.

Special Masses will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon and 7:30 PM with the distribution of ashes. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass that day.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR CONSECRATED LIFE CELEBRATION

Sunday, January 31st at 3:00 PM

St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power Street

On Tuesday, February 2nd, the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. In the Archdiocese of Toronto, we are blessed to have living and serving among us more than 900 religious men and women of 100 different religious congregations. This World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank God for the gifts of these religious sisters, brothers and priests and to pray for God’s blessing upon them in their efforts to faithfully live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.

This Sunday, January 31st at 3:00 PM. at St. Paul’s Basilica, there will be a special Mass to close the Year for Consecrated Life. Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick will preside at the Mass in celebration of the vocation and witness of these special men and women religious who are such a vital and important part of the life and ministry of the Church in our archdiocese. All are welcome to attend.

IMMIGRATION LAWYER NEEDED

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Conference often meet Neighbours in Need who require professional help, but have no resources.

We are asking any of our parishioners who are Lawyers or who know Lawyers, specializing in immigration who would be willing to donate their time to contact the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Gabriel’s. Please call Brenda D’Souza 416-990-8892. Thank you very much for remembering the poor and for all your support in this mission of charity to our Neighbours in Need.

MEALS ON WHEELS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

The Volunteer organization Meals on Wheels, located at 80 Sheppard Avenue West is looking for drivers and runners for the organization. If you would like more information, please contact Karen Leung at 416-225-6041 ext 319 or by email at kleung@mowam.ca and she will provide the details.

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.

Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential through the provision of a wide range of community, residential, educational and child development services.

Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city as well as a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs

With everyone struggling at this time, your food donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support.

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

Development and Peace is proud to be a partner of ShareLIfe. Through our theme this year, Create a Climate of Change, we invite you to experience “the opening of our hearts to those living on the outermost fringes of society.” (Pope Francis)

Lent is a time to look within ourselves and reflect on our relationship with God and with each other. It is the opportune moment to open our hearts towards compassion and love and take action on the multiple crises that are affecting humanity.

Next weekend, members of Development and Peace will distribute Lenten materials that highlight the difference that we can make in creating a Climate of Change.

EFFECT HOPE

Leprosy Mission of Canada Stamp Collection Program

Make a difference with your mail! You can get involved by collecting, trimming and sending them used postage stamps. They fill bags of stamps and sell them to stamp dealers by the kilogram. By donating your time or stamps, you can bring hope to people with leprosy. Please place stamps in the basket provided outside the Parish Office.

A CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE

Cardinal Collins has designated the weekend of February 6th/7th as Marriage Sunday in the Archdiocese of Toronto. The event provides an opportunity to honour husband and wife while saluting the faithfulness, sacrifice and joy that comes with the marriage covenant. To those preparing for marriage, newlyweds and those that have been companions on the journey for decades, we offer our prayers and best wishes in a special way this weekend.

On Saturday, February 13th, at 4:30 PM couples from across the archdiocese will gather for A Celebration of Marriage with Cardinal Thomas Collins at St. Andrew Kim Parish, 849 Don Mills Road, North York. A reception will follow Mass. All are welcome!

BLESSED TRINITY CWL VALENTINE’S DINNER DANCE

Saturday, February 6th from 6:00 PM

Blessed Trinity Church Hall, 3220 Bayview Avenue

The Catholic Women’s league of Blessed Trinity Parish is holding a Valentine Dinner Dance on Saturday February 6th at Blessed Trinity Parish Hall. For more information, please contact Velma at 416-226-0590 or Louise at 416,733-3546.

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE DAY OF RECOLLECTION

Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Blessed Trinity Parish Church, 3220 Bayview Ave.

The Catholic Women’s League of Blessed Trinity Parish is hosting a Day of Recollection on Tuesday, February 16th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Blessed Trinity Parish Hall. Tickets, which include a hot lunch, are $20 each.

All women are invited. For tickets or more info, please call Louise 416-733-3946 or Gisele 416-223-7826

WOMEN’S LENTEN RETREAT WEEKEND

Beginning Friday, February 19th at 8:00 PM

Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, Mississauga.

There will be a Women’s Lenten Retreat at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre on the weekend of February 19th to 21st. The retreat begins at 8:00 PM on Friday and concludes with Mass at noon on Sunday, followed by lunch. Please call 905-278-5229 for further information or to register.

FINANCE CORNER

TAX RECEIPTS FOR 2015

Tax receipts for 2015 have been mailed this past week. Tax receipts for the Family of Faith Campaign or for any donations made by credit card through the Archdiocese will be receipted by the Archdiocese.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2016

Please pick up your 2016 envelopes as soon as possible if you have not already done so.

If you are contributing cash to the Offertory Collection without any identification, you will not receive credit for your contribution. If you are not currently using parish envelopes and wish to have a set issued for 2016, please contact the Parish Office and we will prepare a box for you. This is the most effective way to keep track of your donations.

Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved, so that we may keep our parish records up to date.

In 2016, please do not use any envelopes from previous years as the number on it may have been reassigned. Please put your name on your envelope to ensure that your donation is properly recorded.

Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.